Finally, the last piece for my Canadian FN collection

[stencollector]

First a disclaimer.....I am not grandfathered for the FN-FAL which is prohibited class here in Canada, so all the FN rifles I have are neutered.

I have the EX1, a 3Lxxxx FN C1A1, a couple of 8L C1A1s (which were proposed as being designated C1A2 by Cdn Arsenals, but not adopted), and a FN C2A1. I left an offer with a friend for the missing link, and just got it yesterday....the EX-2. Unfortunately missing it's optical sight and dust cover, along with the rear iron sight attachment. Apparently the British used the same set-up on their X8E2 rifles, but I suspect I will be looking for a long time to find those pieces.

The magazine that came with it appears to be Isreali, but I am pretty sure I have a spare EX1 magazine somewhere, and I know I have a spare X8 magazine down in the gunroom, so either of those will fill the gap.

Here are a souple of quick shots of the CDN EX-2. If there is anything in particular anyone wants to see, just ask and I will snap a shot.

Information

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[nzl1a1collector]

Nice looking rifle, and a rare example even if it is neutered I would be happy to have it as part of my collection. I will have to check the library but the believe the change lever is incorrect, you should have the earlier type on it.

[Flying10uk]

It looks to be in good condition and thanks for posting the pictures. You say it's a deac, so are there any moving parts apart from having a removable mag?

What mag markings would indicate Canadian manufacture/issue, please, anyone?

[stencollector]

The bolt will still move back and forth, but the action does not cock or click. Not worried myself, as I am a bit beyond sitting in the gunroom and dry firing my guns. You cannot open the upper from the lower.

I don't know enough about the small parts to say what is right or wrong, but I did pick up a bag-full of EX-1 parts early this summer at the local surplus store. The majority of the 20 change levers that were in the bag were the same as this one. Photos of that haul attached, however the bulk of those parts have moved on.

There are no markings on a Cdn EX-1 magazine....to that end I suppose they are likely bog-standard FN-FAL magazines from the time. I simply recognize them when they are mixed in with surplus magazines at the milsurp yard, and usually have the white DP stripe on them.

One will notice that this particular rifle did have the limiting dowel pin installed to stop the change lever from going to automatic, but at some point it appears to have been driven further in which would have allowed it to go to F/A.

[mrclark303]

The bolt will still move back and forth, but the action does not cock or click. Not worried myself, as I am a bit beyond sitting in the gunroom and dry firing my guns. You cannot open the upper from the lower.

I don't know enough about the small parts to say what is right or wrong, but I did pick up a bag-full of EX-1 parts early this summer at the local surplus store. The majority of the 20 change levers that were in the bag were the same as this one. Photos of that haul attached, however the bulk of those parts have moved on.

There are no markings on a Cdn EX-1 magazine....to that end I suppose they are likely bog-standard FN-FAL magazines from the time. I simply recognize them when they are mixed in with surplus magazines at the milsurp yard, and usually have the white DP stripe on them.

One will notice that this particular rifle did have the limiting dowel pin installed to stop the change lever from going to automtic, but at some point it appears to have been driven further in which would have allowed it to go to F/A.

What a rare bird, agree with KtK, absolutely love to have her in my Inch pattern collection, deactivated or not!

Just wondering what the quality of the deac work is like, here in the UK it can vary from engineered with care and precision to preserve as much as legally possible, or looking like the village blacksmith had a go ....

How have they permanently mated the TMH to the Receiver? I wonder if the stop pin was removed when it was deactivated, someone probably thinking it made it more interesting if the safety could be moved round to rock and roll, little realising they were spoiling some of the history of the piece.

I have a pre-ban L2A1 in my collection, converted to semi auto in the UK and subsequently deactivated when the ban came in. It also had a stop pin installed and removed post deac.

Very useful collection of spares there, especially the bee hive body lever, if they are inch pattern, then they are rare pieces indeed.

[Airforce1]

Hello,

I have in my collection some parts of EX1 or EX2 rifles which was also used as Drill Purpose (DP) for the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) up to 1995. The white band on the butt was to indicate a DP rifle. In 1994/1995Department of National Defence (DND) removed all those DP rifles from the RCACC units because they had a look of an assault rifle. The Base Weapon Technicians received the orders to put those rifles in pieces and send back to the Depot the barrels, the upper and lower receivers. All other parts were to be destroyed locally. You can see the serial number of the rifle was stamped on the right of the butt and my is O.B.1647 and only the four (4) numbers were put on the bayonet.

Please find some pictures of my two Canadian Trials X2E1 bayonets made in Belgium by Fabrique nationale in 1954. Some 2000 bayonets and a mix of CDN EX1 and EX2 rifles were purchased for trials in Canada's winter and in Germany for testing under all climatic conditions. Normally a serial number, from 0001 to 2000, was marked on the right side of the pommel by stamping or by electric pencil. No Government of Canada ownership on the bayonets. I have one which was stamped with the serial number 1210 and the other the serial number 1834 was inscribed with electric pencil on both side of the pommel (note the number "4" in the serial number is inversed on the left side of the pommel).

Please see video on the EX1 rifles in the British Army in 1954:

[browningautorifle]

Nice looking rare rifle. Very nice.

[Lee Enfield]

The give away of an Ex1/2 magazine is that there is no stake mark on the rear crimp.

As stencollector surely knows already...

Is your ex2 cut for a c1 folding charging handle?

The serial range O.B. 1700 thru O.B. 2000 "should be" Ex2 rifles

[browningautorifle]

c1 folding charging handle

As in the paratrooper cocking handle?

[Lee Enfield]

As in the paratrooper cocking handle?

Are you suggesting that was it a trials version?

I've seen an Ex2 which was cut for a C1 type folding charging handle, (but had the original metric style re-installed), and one with a standard C1 type fitted.

I suspected that as a "Jump Gun" it would make sense to convert it to C1 charging handle, though they must have used Ex rifles as test beds for experimental mods.

Interesting that the original "metric" charging handle seems to be a fibre natural material like the horn they used for butt plates, rather than "plastic". Also note that the knob is longer than a "current" Metric FN cocking knob.